BLACK MOUNT BUGLE

THIS EDITON OF THE BUGLE IS SPONSORED BY RENSHAW SCOTT LTD, CARLUKE

COMMUNITY COUNCIL NEWS

Following the reorganisation of Community Councils by South Lanarkshire Council, the reformed Black Mount Community Council
has met on two occasions. Black Mount welcomes into its area the community of Newbigging and its surroundings, including
Muirlea, Bellscraigs, Gladstone, Greenshields and Newbiggingmill.

The membership of the Community Council is as follows:

Brian Curle, Oakwood, Peggies Knowe, Dolphinton
Joan Highton, 2 Oxengate Cottages, Elsrickle
Ian Kerry, The Beehive, Dolphinton
Chris Miller, Walston House, Walston
Morna Munro, 24 Main Street, Newbigging
Barry Rosindale, Meldons, Elsrickle
Gary Ross, 2 Hillside Gardens, Dolphinton
David Taylor, Townhead Cottage, Elsrickle

The Community Council intends to carry out a survey of the needs and concerns of our residents. This will be circulated to every household in Black Mount with the next issue of the Bugle. We hope you might take the time to complete and return this so that your views will be known.

Finally, the Community Council meets at 7.30 pm on the first Monday of each month in Elsrickle Hall. Our meetings are open to the public
and you will be made most welcome should you choose to attend.

Joan Highton

SoLVE

Promoting, supporting, developing volunteering in South Lanarkshire

SoLVE (South Lanarkshire Volunteering Enterprise) strives to improve
the lives of people. It was established in 1908 and is an independent
organisation. It aims to help both volunteers and organisations by
offering advice and training.

For further information telephone 01698 286902

CARMABEN BRAE

South Lanarkshire Council refused Muir Homes Limited planning
permission for 24 houses on the site adjacent to the A702(T) at Carmaben Brae, on 26 August 1999. The reasons for refusal were that

· the proposal is contrary to the Upper Clydesdale Local Plan, which
identifies the site for 12 houses only and
· in the interests of sustainability the proposal is contrary to the terms
of National Planning Policy Guideline 17 (NPPG17 – Transport and
Planning) by virtue of the scale of the proposal and the type of
housing which is likely to result in excessive commuter traffic
journeys.

The applicants appealed against this decision to the Scottish Executive Inquiry Reporters Unit. The Reporters decision, agreeing with the SLC refusal of planning permission, was announced on 21 December. The reporter said: "I have taken all other matters raised in the submissions into account, but none outweigh my overall conclusion that the proposal is fundamentally inconsistent with the Upper Clydesdale Local Plan."

In relation to the sustainability argument, he agreed with SLC and went further to say: "Leaving aside the existence of an extant consent for 12 houses and the influence that it has clearly exerted, it is highly questionable whether the Upper Clydesdale Local Plan allocation of land for 12 houses at Carmaben Brae is consistent with the relevant provisions of NPPG 17." He agreed that the type of housing proposed was not related to local needs, and came to the inevitable conclusion that the units were aimed at commuters

News from Walston Primary School

This is the first of what I hope will be a regular item in the Black Mount Bugle. It will keep you in touch with what is happening at school and let you know of any special events we are organising. Many of you already receive the monthly newsletter the school produces and this is available to anyone who would like one. Please just let me know.

January has been a very quick and busy month. We celebrated Burns' Day in a traditional way - eating cheese, oatcakes and shortbread and
drinking Irn Bru. The children recited some poems and we finished off the afternoon with Scottish Country Dancing.

Our Pre-5 group and nursery are continuing successfully and the numbers in both groups seem to be increasing. Last week the nurseryenjoyed hearing about the Chinese New Year. They had a restaurant in the corner of the playroom and everyone who ventured near was given a menu and asked to order a Chinese meal. 3 and 4 year old chefs thencarefully prepared prawn crackers, spring rolls and curry and rice which
we had to eat using chopsticks!

The older pupils have been very busy learning how to send e-mails and access the Internet. We are very grateful to Mr Tolson who has come to
School regularly to help us with this and P6/7 are making use of their new skills in their present topic of Recycling and Conservation.

Walston Primary School Board is organising a Family Ceilidh on Friday17th March 2000 in Black Mount Church Hall in Dolphinton. Everyone is
welcome to attend this event. Look out for posters etc. with more details
about cost and times.

Please contact the school if you have any questions or comments:
Loraine Kinghorn, Headteacher - Walston Primary School 01899 810234

Black Mount Church

The Reverend Stephen Pacitti and his wife Sylvia are very grateful for the warm welcome given them at the recent Welcome Social, and look forward to working among the people of the Parish.

The Bugle for Newbigging

Could you volunteer to deliver copies of the Bugle in Newbigging
and/or its surrounding area? It is published four times a year.

Please contact Liz Gilfoyle - 01899 810373.

Biggar & District Civic Society

Each winter, we plan a series of talks on matters of topical interest.
Our talks are held in the Municipal Hall, Biggar at 7.30pm, admission is free and you would be most welcome.

28th February Karen Gillon, SMP, Labour member for Clydesdale
27th March Brian Lambie on the 550th anniversary of the
founding of Biggar and the centenary of the High
School
15th May Joan Geddes, Director of the Association for the
Preservation of Rural Scotland

In addition, Brian Lambie will lead another of his historical walks around Biggar later in the summer. The talks and walks are open to all, although naturally we hope that in addition to providing interest and enjoyment to current members, to expand our membership through them.

South Lanarkshire Council's Energy Advice Unit has recently set up a special network to cover Rural Areas. Working in conjunction
with the Housing Department, it's aimed at all South Lanarkshire residents, whether council tenants or homeowners. Free
information and advice is available on a wide range of domestic energy topics, including insulation, condensation, ventilation, the
reduction of heating bills and a guide to cold home improvement grants. A Housing Officer visits the Gillespie Centre, Biggar, on the first Tuesday of each month, from 11 a.m. till 12 noon, and will be happy to answer your questions. You can also contact the Energy Advice Unit on freephone 0800 731 6845.

Black Mount Lunch Club

During the winter, entertainment at the Lunch Club included Mr Sandy Gilchrist from Biggar showing us antique curios. We also had a quiz and
Mrs Ruth Bryden showed slides of around Scotland. A number of outings were very nice and we had a lovely Christmas lunch at Toftcombs Hotel in Biggar. Forthcoming dates for your diary are as follows:

15th May Annual General Meeting
20th May Plant Sale and Coffee Morning from 10am to Noon
29th May Outing to Bamburgh & Holy Island

The Guild

On the 26th January, Mr David Taylor showed slides of life in ‘Zimbabwe
after Independence’. These showed different parts of the country and the
way of life there.

23rd February Heather Gregory will speak on behalf of the Heart
and Stroke Foundation.
3rd March World Day of Prayer
24th March Annual General Meeting

All these meetings are at 2pm in the Church Hall, Dolphinton.

26th April Miss Heather Watt will show slides of Gardens of
Ireland. This is our guest night, and all are welcome at
The Church Hall, Dolphinton at 7.30pm

Black Mount Social Group

Black Mount Social Group is to revert to being a sub-committee of
the Community Council. However, our annual events should continue
as before. Next date for your diary is Sports Night on Friday 26th May.
Weather permitting, of course…..

Black Mount Coffee Morning

A special Coffee Morning will be held in the Church Hall, Dolphinton on March 15th at 10.30am in aid of Meningitis. There will be a small raffle. Everyone welcome.

Dolphinton WRI

We’ve had two memorable meetings already this century. In January we had just settled down to enjoy Liz Welsh’s talk and slides about her work as a veterinary surgeon at the new Dick Vet, when the power went off!!

In February, we thoroughly enjoyed meeting Tommy and his birds – a peregrine falcon, a barn owl, a European eagle owl (huge) and a collared scops owl (tiny).
You can meet them all at the Bird of Prey Centre at Dobbies Garden Centre.
Our next meeting on Wednesday 8th March will be craft demonstrations by three of our members.

The WRI will hold a Table Top Sale on Saturday 1st April in Dolphinton Hall from 2pm to 4pm. If you want to book a table to sell your ‘wares’ phone Cathy on 01968 682237. Cost of a table is £5, anything more that you make is your profit!
There will be a tombola, and tea/coffee/home baking will be available.
So: Look out your bric-a-brac, old videos, outgrown toys, bake some cakes, and get selling!!

Computer Help

I have an iMac – is there another iMac in the area, preferably with a highly computer literate owner? I am interested in sharing know-how and mutual trouble shooting. Phone Pam - 01968 682203

Wanted

Does anyone have a small ladies’ or a large child’s mountain bike they would like to sell. If so, please phone Pam - 01968 682203

Nothing to do on Saturday 11th March?

Peeblesshire Federation WRI Bulb Show in Peebles Drill Hall is well worth a visit to see all the spring flowers and beautiful handcrafts. 10am to 4pm.

Aromatherapy

Although it may be too late to consider aromatherapy to ward off and prevent colds and flu, the following suggestions are made just in case they are needed.

Anti-viral Inhalation Expectorant Inhalation

2 pints hot water 2 pints hot water
2 drops ravensara aromatica 2 drops eucalyptus
1 drop tea tree 2 drops benzoin
1 drop eucalyptus radiata 1 drop frankincense
1 drop lavender Breathe deeply for 5 minutes Breathe the vapours deeply
for 5 minutes

Chest Rub Compress for a Hacking Cough

1 drop rosemary 1 drop thyme
2 drops lavender *1 drop rosemary
1 drop sandalwood 1 drop sandalwood
Blend in 10mls carrier oil 1 drop frankincense in
And massage into the chest a small bowl of hot water. Soak
area. A small towel, wring out, and
Apply to the chest.
* do not use if you suffer from
epilepsy

Lesley Kerr, Woodend, Dolphinton
Telephone 01968 682331

Cottage to Let

Two bedrooms Central Heating Newly refurbished

Easton Farm

Contact 01968 682250

Dates for your diary

Every Monday Except SchoolHolidays : Black Mount Luncheon Club Elsrickle Hall 12 Noon
Alternate Wednesdays : Black Mount Church Coffee Morning Dolphinton 10.30am
3 March - The Guild World Day of Prayer Dolphinton 2.00pm
6 March - Black Mount Community Council Meeting Elsrickle Hall 7.30pm
8 March - Elsrickle WRI Talk on Russia Elsrickle Hall 7.30pm
1 April - Dolphinton WRI Table Top Sale Dolphinton 2.00pm
3 April - Black Mount Community Council Meeting Elsrickle Hall 7.30pm
24 March - The Guild AGM Dolphinton 2.00pm
12 April - Elsrickle WRI Floral Art Mrs M Adamson Elsrickle Hall 7.30pm
26 April - The Guild Gardens of Ireland Dolphinton 7.30pm
8 May - Black Mount Community Council Meeting Elsrickle Hall 7.30pm
15 May - Black Mount Luncheon Club AGM Elsrickle 12 Noon
20 May - Black Mount Luncheon Club Plant Sale Elsrickle 10.00am
26 May - BMCC Sports Night Dolphinton
29 May - Black Mount Luncheon Club Holy Island Elsrickle

LAST DATE FOR CONTRIBUTIONSTO THE NEXT BUGLE IS THURSDAY 11TH MAY 2000

Please send all your articles, dates, reports, news and advertisements to
Liz Gilfoyle, 3 Oxengate Farm Cottages, Elsrickle
Telephone 01899 810373
E-mail Liz.Gilfoyle@btinternet.com

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